[plschwartz]

Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Ancient Sea

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 23, 2004; 2:00 PM

The site where a NASA robot found the first hard evidence that water once existed on Mars is apparently the remains of an ancient shoreline of a salty sea, scientists reported today.


A detailed analysis of rocks in the shallow crater where the rover has been studying the Red Planet's geology indicates the formations were shaped by gently flowing salt water, indicating the area was probably once the coastline of an ocean, scientists said.

"We think Opportunity is now parked on what was once the shoreline of a salty sea on Mars," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., who is leading the scientific team studying Mars. ....


And in my minds eye I can see four little green men with electric guitars on the shore of that ocean singing:
Seventeen miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is awaiting for me
Santa catalina the island of romance......

 

[LANMaster]

Originally posted by plschwartz:
Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Ancient Sea

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 23, 2004; 2:00 PM

The site where a NASA robot found the first hard evidence that water once existed on Mars is apparently the remains of an ancient shoreline of a salty sea, scientists reported today.

A detailed analysis of rocks in the shallow crater where the rover has been studying the Red Planet's geology indicates the formations were shaped by gently flowing salt water, indicating the area was probably once the coastline of an ocean, scientists said.

"We think Opportunity is now parked on what was once the shoreline of a salty sea on Mars," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., who is leading the scientific team studying Mars. ....

It makes one wonder what event could have destroyed the atmosphere and dried up the sea.

And in my minds eye I can see four little green men with electric guitars on the shore of that ocean singing:
Seventeen miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is awaiting for me
Santa catalina the island of romance......

I thought Catalina was 26 miles from the California coast.

 

[Paquadez]

Coke probably scooped it up and turned it into the most expensive designer water ever!

Came in pretty bottles, though!

Paq

 

[plschwartz]

LAN
all I can say is that at my age 26 miles is too far to travel for romance

 

[Wino]

I have a feeling the salt water is urine. God tried his wonders on Mars first, didn't like the way it was going, and just said "piss on it!"

 

[Paquadez]

And there's me, thinking that was Canada, Wino!

Paq

 

[Izme]

Ok, there is water on Mars. Big deal? I think so
What of EUROPA; one of Jupiter's moons? (just one case)
Could this or any other planet in the Cosmo's possibly provide an environment suitable to microbial life or more? The planets Venus, Earth, and Mars in our solar system demonstrate the major roles played by thermal history, geophysical processes, geological activity, and interactions with the interplanetary environment in determining atmospheric properties, climate, and the history and accessibility of liquid water at and near the planets'surfaces. The three planets provide different "boundary conditions" on planetary evolution, with the result being that they have very different water histories. We are just now beginning to understand the complex interplay that can occur between the various components of a planet and how they can affect the resulting climate and history of water. Given the importance of water as a lagging indicator of the history of the planet and as a leading indicator of the potential for life, it is premature to claim that we understand what determines the potential that a planet has for life. The discovery of planets around other stars brings these issues to the fore, in that they affect our ability to determine the implications of the existence of extrasolar giant planets (which have been discovered) for the existence of extrasolar terrestrial planets (which have not) and for the potential that such planets would have for the occurrence of life.

So can we say that the implications of water on mars is irrelelvent or points to nothing?

I think it points to the fact that we are not alone in the Cosmo's more than anything everytime we get alittle closer to the truth!

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[LANMaster]

The biggest question about the possibility of past water on mars has to be, where is it now? How and why did it disappear.

I saw the spirit pictures, and there wasn't a single Republican in sight?

 

[GoneForNow]

Originally posted by LANMaster:
The biggest question about the possibility of past water on mars has to be, where is it now? How and why did it disappear.

I saw the spirit pictures, and there wasn't a single Republican in sight?

My question is why does everyone assume the water is not there? Could be below the surface.

 

[Izme]

2 Scenarios for water on Mars

• Volcanic eruptions generated layers of ash with lots of pore space. Subsurface water then percolated through the pores.

• Or there was a salty sea of water with currents and waves. As the water evaporated, salt settled out along with other sediments and built the layers.

Either scenario would have provided an environment suitable to microbial life.

Mars, like Earth, is about 4.5 billion years old. Whether we find water there now is irrelevent to the big question

Is there life elsewhere?

If water is found on Mars is does bring up some interesting questions. I look forward to proof of water on mars just the same

 

[Izme]

Originally posted by LANMaster:
The biggest question about the possibility of past water on mars has to be, where is it now? How and why did it disappear.

Now if we consider one of the tectonic plate edges that was under the sea we must realize that in the past at this point the pressure of the lava flow from the mantle was greater than the water pressure of the sea. Now the role is reversed as the mantle cannot flow to the surface and the water of the sea starts to flow into any cracks left by the previous volcanoes. During this process water erosion would have helped in creating a way through to the mantle.

Now as this water starts to flow into the mantle it slowly starts to cool and solidify the mantle. This in turn causes the mantle to contract which would lead to more space in the mantle region to accommodate more water from the planet’s surface. This extra space could take the form of cracks and even larger caverns where the water could flow into. In this way the whole ocean could flow into the mantle. It will be shown that this is quite feasible with calculations further on.

Now the question may arise about what happened to all the water that may have been in land locked lakes and rivers. Well most rivers lead into the ocean and so all the runoff from the rivers would flow into the mantle after flowing into the ocean. Water in lakes would evaporate and there would be precipitation over areas which would have rivers that would inevitable flow to the ocean. In this way all the lakes and rivers would dry up . Water from lakes could also over long periods of time seep through the crust into the mantle.

All of this over a long period of time would lead to the present situation which we have now where there is very little or no surface water on mars.

 

[LANMaster]

The presence of water is actually more important (IMO) than the presence of past life.

Water can be converted into fuel.

Is that ice on the polar caps of Mars? Or salt? Or could it be frosting?

 

[Izme]

yes
and we spend alot of energy moving water in space also
what other natural resources may we find there?
And will countries be fighting over rights to these resources?

I heard a crazy theory many years ago
that what if Mars died and Humans came from there
some folks do look kind of martian

LMAO

 

[Gibble]

Originally posted by Paquadez:
And there's me, thinking that was Canada, Wino!

Paq

Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God went missing for six days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God, "Where have you been?"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look Michael, look what I've made."

Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"

"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put LIFE on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."

"Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused.

God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth, "For example, Northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth while Southern Europe is going to be poor; the Middle East over there will be a hot spot. Over there I've placed a continent of white people and over there is a continent of black people," God continued, pointing to different countries. This one will be extremely hot and arid while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."

The Archangel, impressed by Gods work, then pointed to a large land mass in the top corner and asked, "What's that one?"

"Ah," said God. "That's Canada, the most glorious place on Earth. There's beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers, streams and an exquisite coast-line. The people from Canada are going to be modest, intelligent and humorous and they're going to be found traveling the world. They'll be extremely sociable, hard-working and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace. I'm also going to give them super-human, undefeatable ice hockey players who will be admired and feared by all who come across them."

Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed. "What about balance, God. You said there will be BALANCE!"

God replied wisely. "Wait until you see the loud-mouth *******s I'm putting next to them."

 

[Izme]

And god created Salma Hyak

thank you thank you thank you

 

[Paquadez]

Only teasin', Gib!

Loved the riposte!:up: :up:

Paq

 

[plschwartz]

I understand that they have also fould traces of pure ethanol that is perculating up from underground where it may have been stored for millions of years

The reason that the republicans left was that Mars had run out of water and they of course refuse to drink their whisky neat.

 

[LANMaster]

LOL